Apparatus having curved display

ABSTRACT

An electronic paper display unit includes a protective case, which is made of a transparent material, a display, which is installed in the protective case, is powered to display desired image information, and includes a plurality of divided regions, and a control module, which is electrically connected with the display, and includes a first mode transmitting a divided mode signal such that many pieces of image information are independently displayed on the respective divided regions and a second mode transmitting an integrated mode signal such that one piece of image information is displayed throughout the overall divided regions. Further, a mobile communication terminal can visually display various pieces of image information thereon according to selection of a user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 15/670,818,filed Aug. 7, 2017, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.14/665,981, filed Mar. 23, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,727,299, which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 12/284,047, filed Sep. 18, 2008,now U.S. Pat. No. 8,996,068, which claims priority to Korean ApplicationNo. 10-2007-0096507, filed Sep. 21, 2007, the contents of which are allincorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present invention relates to an electronic paper display unit and amobile communication terminal having the same and, more particularly, toan electronic paper display unit, which visually displays various piecesof image information on the outer faces of a mobile communicationterminal, and a mobile communication terminal having the same.

2. Description of Related Art

In general, with the increasing mobile communication users and thetechnological development of the mobile communication terminals, themobile communication terminals have been added with a variety ofmultimedia functions, for instance, camera, moving picture display,game, etc., in addition to the simple communication function.

Further, as the multimedia functions are added, the display device ofthe mobile communication terminal has been developed from a lightemitting diode (LED) to a liquid crystal display (LCD), and thenequipped with a color LCD from a monochrome LCD.

In addition, as the size of an LCD screen becomes larger, the secondaryLCD screen can be operated without using the primary LCD screen to savethe battery power and protect the LCD screen life in the normalsituations.

This LCD screen is designed to display desired image information on theremaining outside portion other than a molding that forms a body of themobile communication terminal.

In other words, the LCD screen is designed to help the users easilyrecognize and select the information while communicating with each otheror while receiving or sending information from or to a given networkhost.

Thus, the body of the mobile communication terminal is normallyassembled with the already colored or coated parts except the LCDscreen. Therefore, it is difficult to express every user's personalinterests and characteristics on the assembled body parts.

For this problem, the users normally attach a separate cover or a pouchto the body of the mobile communication terminal.

Thus, the users can partly express their disposition and personalityusing the differently designed materials with various colors. However,since the cover is separately attached on the terminal body, foreignmatters such as dusts are easily deposited between the cover and thebody.

As such, today there is a demand for the development of variouslydisplaying the image information, for instance, moving pictures,photographs, etc., somewhere on their mobile communication terminals.Thus, every user can express personal interests and personalities on theother areas rather than the LCD screen.

SUMMARY

To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is aprimary object to provide an electronic paper display unit, which isinstalled in a protective case made from a transparent material, andindependently displays many pieces of desired image information such asmoving pictures, photographs or the like in the divided regions, ordisplays one piece of desired image information throughout the overalldivided regions, and a mobile communication terminal having the same.

The present invention also provides an electronic paper display unit,which displays various pieces of image information on the outer faces ofthe main body as well as the sub-body of a mobile communicationterminal, and thus the present invention increases the beauty of theouter faces, and a mobile communication terminal having the same.

The present invention also provides an electronic paper display unit,which easily corrects a contrast at the edge or circumference of therounded body of a mobile communication terminal, and thus increases thebeauty of the outer faces, and a mobile communication terminal havingthe same.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronicpaper display unit, which includes: a protective case, which is madefrom a transparent material; a display, which is installed inside theprotective case and powered to display desired image information on aplurality of divided regions; a control module, which is electricallyconnected with the display and includes a first mode transmitting adivided mode signal so that two or more pieces of image information areindependently displayed on the divided regions, and a second modetransmitting an integrated mode signal so that one piece of imageinformation is displayed throughout the divided regions.

Here, the protective case may further include the base member on oneside thereof.

Further, the protective case may be made from a transparent plasticmaterial or a transparent elastic material.

Meanwhile, one or more of the divided regions may be formed as thecurved regions.

Among the divided regions, the outermost ones may further include thesub-regions that are curved on the outer circumferences of the dividedregions, and each curved sub-region may be powered to display the imageinformation which is gradually increased from a first end to a secondend of the curved sub-region.

Further, each sub-region may include a plurality of the dividedsub-regions.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobilecommunication terminal having an electronic paper display unit, whichincludes: a main body, on which both a first circuit board and a liquidcrystal display electrically connected with the first circuit board areinstalled; a sub-body, which is coupled with the main body, on which asecond circuit board electrically connected with the first circuit boardis installed, and on which a battery supplying power to the first andsecond circuit boards is mounted; a protective case, which is installedon the outside of the main body and the sub-body and has a predeterminedthickness, and which is made of a transparent material; a display, whichis installed inside the protective case and is powered from the outsideto display a desired image information, and which includes a pluralityof divided regions; and a control module, which is installed in thesub-body to connect electrically with the display, and which includesboth a first mode, transmitting a divided mode signal such that aplurality of pieces of image information are independently displayed onthe divided regions, and a second mode, transmitting an integrated modesignal such that one piece of image information is displayed throughoutthe divided regions.

Here, the protective case may be coupled to the outside of either themain body or the sub-body using a coupling means. The coupling means mayinclude sliding ridges, which are formed on opposite sides of the mainbody and the sub-body, and sliding holes, which are formed on oppositesides of the protective case and are coupled with the sliding ridges.

Further, the protective case may be made of a transparent plasticmaterial or a transparent elastic material.

Also, one or more of the divided regions may be formed as the curvedregions.

Among the divided regions, the outermost ones may further includesub-regions that are curved on the outer circumferences of the dividedregions, and each curved sub-region may be powered to display the imageinformation, a contrast of which is gradually increased from a first endto a second end of the curved sub-region.

Further, each sub-region may include a plurality of divided sub-regions.

According to the present invention, the electronic paper display unitcan be installed in the protective case made from a transparentmaterial, and independently displays many pieces of desired imageinformation such as moving pictures, photographs or the like on thedivided regions, or displays one piece of desired image informationthroughout the divided regions.

The electronic paper display unit can display various pieces of imageinformation on the outer faces of the main body as well as the sub-bodyof the mobile communication terminal, and thus the present inventionincreases the beauty of the outer faces.

The electronic paper display unit can easily correct the contrast at theedge or circumference of the rounded body of the mobile communicationterminal, and thus increase the beauty of the outer faces.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, itmay be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words andphrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and“comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion withoutlimitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases“associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivativesthereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with,contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, becommunicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximateto, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and theterm “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controlsat least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware,firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same.It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particularcontroller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally orremotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are providedthroughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the artshould understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitionsapply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words andphrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a mobile communicationterminal having an electronic paper display unit according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a mobile communicationterminal having an electronic paper display unit according to a secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the mobile communication terminal ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobilecommunication terminal according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along the line I-I′ of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along the line II-IF of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a display according to anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of an electronicpaper display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 through 8, discussed below, and the various embodiments used todescribe the principles of the present disclosure in this patentdocument are by way of illustration only and should not be construed inany way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the principles of the present disclosure may beimplemented in any suitably arranged mobile communication terminal.

An electronic paper display unit and a mobile communication terminalhaving the same, according to the present invention, will be describedbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Here, the configuration of the electronic paper display unit issubstantially included in the configuration of the mobile communicationterminal.

Thus, the configuration of the electronic paper display unit will bedescribed together with the configuration of the mobile communicationterminal.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the mobile communication terminal having anelectronic paper display unit includes: a main body 100, on which boththe first circuit board 110 and a liquid crystal display (LCD) 120electrically connected with a first circuit board 110 are installed; asub-body 200, which is coupled with the main body 100, on which a secondcircuit board 210 electrically connected with the first circuit board110 is installed, and on which a battery 250 supplying the power to thefirst circuit board 110 and the second circuit board 210 is mounted.

The mobile communication terminal may be a folding type in which one endof the main body 100 can be hinged on the other end of the sub-body 200as illustrated in FIG. 1, or a sliding type in which the main body 109can be slid on the sub-body 209 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Thus, the electronic paper display unit of the present invention can beapplied to both the mobile communication terminal of FIG. 1 and themobile communication terminal of FIG. 2.

Now, the configuration and operation of the electronic paper displayunit of the present invention will be described as follows.

The electronic paper display unit of the present invention includes aprotective case 400 or 409 coupled to a base member, a display 300 or309 installed in the protective case 400, and a control module 500controlling the display 300 to display desired image information.

The base member can be either the main body 100 or 109 or the sub-body200 or 209 as illustrated in FIG. 1 or 2.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 5, the protective case 400, made ofa transparent material, is installed on the outside of the main body 100and the sub-body 200 with a predetermined thickness.

The protective case 400 may be made of a transparent material (e.g.plastic) or an elastic material (e.g. rubber).

The protective case 400 is coupled with the main body 100 and thesub-body 200 using a coupling means.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the coupling means includes sliding ridges401, which projects outwards from the inner face of the protective case400, and sliding holes 101, which are formed in the outer face of themain body 100 and will be coupled with the sliding ridges 401.

Further, although not illustrated in the drawings, the sliding ridges401 may be formed on the outer face of the main body 100, and thesliding holes 101 may be formed in the inner face of the protective case400.

Of course, the protective case 400 can be coupled with the main body 100or the sub-body 200 by means of an adhesive material (not shown) such asglue or tape.

Here, the protective case 400 is provided with a recess 410 forinstalling the display 300 in the inner face thereof.

Now, the display 300 of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 7.

The display 300, installed in the inner face of the protective case 400,is powered to display desired image information, and includes a mainregion 310, which includes a plurality of divided main regions 311.

Thus, each of the divided main regions 311 functions as an independentdisplay to show the image information.

The main region 310 further includes sub-regions 320, which are disposedin a curved shape on the outer circumference of the main region 310.

Each sub-region 320 is coupled with the outer circumference of the mainregion 310. Each sub-region 320 is electrically connected and can beoperated with the separate power.

Each sub-region 320 is powered to display the image information, acontrast of which is gradually increased from one end to the other endof each sub-region 320 along the outer circumferences.

The power may be supplied by the control module 500, which will bedescribed below. The contrast can also be controlled by the controlmodule 500.

In addition, each sub-region 320 includes a plurality of dividedsub-regions 321.

Next, the control module 500 of the present invention will be describedwith reference to FIG. 8.

The control module 500 is installed in the sub-body 200 to be connectedelectrically with the display 300, and includes a first mode 510,transmitting a divided mode signal such that many pieces of the firstimage information are independently displayed on the divided mainregions 311, and a second mode 520, transmitting an integrated modesignal such that one piece of the second image information is displayedthroughout the overall divided main regions 311.

In detail, the display 300 of the present invention includes both themain region 310 having the divided main regions 311, and the sub-regions320 surrounding the main region 310.

The main region 310 is arranged in a grid shape, and includes n numbersof the divided main regions 311.

The n numbers of the divided main regions 311 are electrically connectedwith the control module 500.

Although not illustrated, each sub-region has the shape of a bar havinga predetermined length, and includes m numbers of the dividedsub-regions 321.

The m numbers of the divided sub-regions 321 are electrically connectedwith the control module 500.

Meanwhile, the first mode 510 outputs the divided mode signal such thatmany pieces of the first image information are independently displayedon each of the divided main regions 311 of the main region 310 and eachof the divided sub-regions 321 of each sub-region 320.

The second mode 520 outputs the integrated mode signal such that onepiece of the second image information is displayed throughout theoverall divided main regions 311 of the main region 310 and the overalldivided sub-regions 321 of each sub-region 320.

In addition, the control module 500 further includes an input 550, whichcan input the source information constituted of the first and secondimage information.

The input 550 can be adapted to select one or more of the many pieces ofthe source information such as moving pictures, photographs, or thecolor information, so that it can use the selected information as thefirst image information or the second image information.

When the source information for the first image information or thesecond image information is input through the input 550, the controlmodule 500 secures a predetermined memory, and then stores the sourceinformation in the memory.

For example, when the source information for the first image informationis input through the input 550, a controller 540 of the control module500 stores the source information, and then transmits an electricalsignal to the first mode 510.

Thus, the first mode 510 outputs the divided mode signal, so that thefirst image information can be displayed on each of the divided mainregions 311.

Here, all pieces of the first image information, which are displayed oneach of the divided main regions 311, may be equal to or different fromeach other.

If different, the different pieces of the first image information areinput into the controller 540 through the input 550. The controller 540stores the different pieces of the first image information, which willbe transmitted to each of the divided main regions 311.

Meanwhile, the control module 500 further includes a selector 530, whichcan select at least one of the divided main regions 311 to controlon/off operation of the selected region.

Thus, the first image information is allowed to be displayed only on thedivided main region 311 indicated by the selector 530.

In contrast, when the source information for the second imageinformation is input through the input 550, the controller 540 storesthe source information, and then transmits an electrical signal to thesecond mode 520.

Thus, the second mode 520 outputs the integrated mode signal, so thatthe second image information can be displayed on the divided mainregions 311.

Here, the divided main regions 311 function to display one piece of thesecond image information.

Although the present invention describes the sample case where the firstor second image information is displayed on the divided main regionsthrough the first or second mode 510 or 520 of the control module 500,this case is equally applied to the sub-regions 320.

Meanwhile, the sub-regions 320 are typically installed on the edges ofthe main body 100 or the sub-body 200 of the mobile communicationterminal as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Each sub-region 320 is curved from one end to the other end thereof.

Thus, the contrast for the first or second image information displayedfrom one end to the other end of the sub-regions 320 thereof can bevisually varied.

When the sub-regions 320 are visually tested at a predeterminedposition, the controller 540 can gradually increase the contrast fromone end to the other end of each sub-region 320. Thus the displayedcontrast can be adjusted equally.

In addition, one or more of the divided main regions 311 of the mainregion 310 may have the curved regions.

When the display 300 having the main region 310 is installed on the mainbody 100 or the sub-body 200 of the mobile communication terminal, itcan be installed in accordance with the shapes of the edge of the mainbody 100 or the sub-body 200.

Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplaryembodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to oneskilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompasssuch changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable communication device comprising: adisplay cover forming at least part of a front surface of the portablecommunication device, the display cover including a planar surface and acurved surface configured to curve from the planar surface to a lateraledge of the display cover; and a display located below the displaycover, the display including a planar area and a curved area, the planararea visible through at least part of the planar surface of the displaycover, and the curved area visible through at least part of the curvedsurface of the display cover, wherein the display forms at least part ofa display device including a light emitting diode and attached to thedisplay cover as curved along with at least part of the curved surfaceof the display cover.
 2. The portable communication device of claim 1,further comprising a plurality of circuit boards, wherein at least onecircuit board of the plurality of circuit boards is electrically coupledwith the display.
 3. The portable communication device of claim 1,wherein the display includes another area visible via at least part ofanother curved surface located on an opposite side of the display coverfrom the curved surface.
 4. The portable communication device of claim3, wherein the other curved surface is located on an opposite side ofthe portable communication device from the curved area.
 5. The portablecommunication device of claim 1, wherein the curved area is extendedfrom the planar area as curved towards a rear surface of the portablecommunication device.
 6. The portable communication device of claim 1,wherein at least part of the curved area is configured to displayinformation.
 7. The portable communication device of claim 6, whereinthe curved area comprises a plurality of divided portions including afirst divided portion and a second divided portion, the first dividedportion configured to display at least part of the informationindependently of the second divided portion.
 8. The portablecommunication device of claim 6, wherein the planar area is configuredto be inactivated at least temporarily based at least in part onactivation of the curved area.
 9. The portable communication device ofclaim 1, further comprising a rear cover forming at least part of a rearsurface of the portable communication device, the rear cover includinganother planar surface and another curved surface extended from theother planar surface.
 10. A portable communication device comprising: adisplay cover including a planar surface, a first curved surface and asecond curved surface, the planar surface forming at least part of afront surface of the portable communication device, the first curvedsurface configured to curve from a first portion of the planar surfaceto a lateral side of the display cover and forming at least part of afirst side surface of the portable communication device, and the secondcurved surface extended from a second portion of the planar surfaceopposite to the first portion and forming at least part of a second sidesurface of the portable communication device opposite to the first sidesurface; and a display located below the display cover, the displayincluding a planar area, a first curved area and a second curved area,the planar area visible via at least part of the planar surface of thedisplay cover, the first curved area visible through at least part ofthe first curved surface of the display cover, and the second curvedarea visible through at least part of the second curved surface of thedisplay cover, wherein the display forms at least part of a displaydevice including a light emitting diode and attached to the displaycover as curved along with at least part of the curved surface of thedisplay cover.
 11. The portable communication device of claim 10,wherein the first curved area and the second curved area are configuredto display information.
 12. The portable communication device of claim10, further comprising a circuit board located below the display,wherein the circuit board includes a controller operatively coupled withthe display and configured to control the display such that each of theplanar area, the first curved area and the second curved area is todisplay a different portion of same content.
 13. The portablecommunication device of claim 10, wherein at least one of the firstcurved area or second curved area is extended from the planar area ascurved towards a rear surface of the portable communication device. 14.The portable communication device of claim 10, wherein at least part ofthe first curved area is configured to display information independentof the second curved area.
 15. The portable communication device ofclaim 14, wherein the first curved area comprises a plurality of dividedportions including a first divided portion and a second divided portion,the first divided portion configured to display at least part of theinformation independently of the second divided portion.
 16. Theportable communication device of claim 14, wherein the planar area isconfigured to be inactivated at least temporarily based at least in parton activation of the first curved area.
 17. The portable communicationdevice of claim 10, further comprising a rear cover forming at leastpart of a rear surface of the portable communication device, the rearcover including another planar surface and another curved surfaceextended from the other planar surface.
 18. The portable communicationdevice of claim 10, wherein the planar area comprises a plurality ofdivided portions including a first planar divided portion and a secondplanar divided portion.
 19. The portable communication device of claim18, wherein the first planar divided portion is configured to display atleast part of information independently of the second planar dividedportion.